Pliny Harris

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/05/28/exclusive-premier-league-restart-june-17/ A paywalled article, but you get the gist.

All dancing this evening, yeah?

Let’s not tempt fate.

It’s unreal how far it’s gone in the wrong direction, that as soon as a striker scores seven in 10 games he’s being followed everywhere by an entourage of pundits, scouts and ITKs. McAlinden got that straightaway. Hell hath no fury like a Town fan who’s noticed a striker who’s quickly notched ten goals has suddenly lost his form. If the hype machine didn’t churn half as much as it did in modern football, a player like McAlinden could’ve totted up 20+ goals for us in a complete season (ironically looking back now), would finally have a great full season on his record, and would be in a better place to sustain such form at a higher ranked club. Yet footballers see they’ll only be kicking around for a handful of years, then cash in early so their agents can.

Ultimately, the schadenfreude is tinged with the knowledge that McAlinden’s one of countless footballers and other employees going through the same thing. There’s a lot of potential for him still, he was mint for us and hadn’t gone near to doing a Jamie Rainford, and I don’t see why we’d be downhearted in the unlikely event that he ever came back to us.

My plans vs. 2020

On the other hand I prefer to keep the distinction between key workers and other workers, even when it’s footballers on a morally reprehensible wedge. Nurses and other undervalued NHS workers deserve a proper pay rise, no ifs no buts. They should also be working in a better funded system with room for slack for when one-off crises happen, such as Covid-19 or going through a freak incident like a British winter. No argument. Meanwhile non-essential workers should be protected equitably. If footballers can’t work safely, and I’m not sure if they can yet, then keep them off the (training) fields be they a pampered millionaire or a furloughed apprentice at Pontefract Collieries. I’d watch the Bundesliga to see how their experiment gets along for the next month before being bold enough to continue ourselves. We need to take the lead of other nations where there’s no other evidence. I’m sure there’s other info backing up their decision, but in the main, what we’ve learnt is that careful and cautious causes the least damage here. Otherwise, I could be wrong!

It’ll only serve as chucking money at the club as a Shayman up north, but for those expecting to attend 15/23 games or more next season—just under two thirds isn’t it?—I’d strongly encourage it. It might not maximise the money Town get in this season, but what they arguably need more is an injection over the next few months instead, which is probably the aim of these tickets without making the season ticket a dopey price like £340+ once again. Assuming no disruptions next season, I’d be paying a few score more than what I’d otherwise pay, but those who bought it last season must all consider it, if they’re fortunate enough not to be looking after #1 instead.

I’d speak to the manager if I were you.

Expect more demands to see the ticket counter than ever.

Thing is we usually don’t. How many total wins have we got out of that lot? Probably about five from 18 or so fixtures? It just makes things worse.

Has a video of Matty Brown explaining why this season ticket offer is the cat’s pyjamas been leaked yet?

Hands up if you get excited over playing Eastleigh, Bromleigh or Braintreigh.

I’d thought so little of Town due to everything else that I forgot we had Rodney. Love him. Budgets and asking prices will be all over the place immediately coming out of this crisis. Reach for him with outstretched arms.

Worth coming back on these discussions in the there and now. Turns out a Times hack has written an opinion piece titled, “Is it fair to put lives at risk for football? On balance, yes”. Pretty warped.